Jon Blais (August 30, 1971 – May 27, 2007), also known as Blazeman, was an American triathlete noted for his fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is the namesake of the Blazeman Foundation.[1]
Born and raised in Seekonk, Massachusetts, Blais moved to San Diego, California because of its reputation as a triathlon mecca and to work with learning disabled and at risk students.[1][2] On May 2, 2005, at age 33, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or motor neurone disease, a progressive disease in which the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement degenerate and die off. He was permitted to enter the 2005 Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, a lifelong dream. As Blais put it, "Finishing the race is huge for me. No one is beating ALS. No one has done anything but walk away and die." His resolve to finish the race was unwavering as he stated, "Even if I have to be rolled across the finish line, I'm finishing."[3] With a total time of 16:28:56, more than half an hour before the cutoff, he "log-rolled" across the finish line and is the first person with ALS to start and finish this race.[1] He died on May 27, 2007. Some international triathletes continue to honor Blais and show their support for the fight against ALS by doing a "Blazeman-Roll" across the Ironman finish-line.[4]
Blazeman Foundationedit
The Blazeman Foundation[5] is a non-profit organization that raises money internationally to foster awareness of and research on ALS. Branding itself as the "Multi-Sport Movement To End Lou Gehrig's Disease," the organization was founded in 2007 by friends and family of Jon Blais.[6] As a popular money-raising cause and "reason to race" for professional and amateur triathletes, the organization is the subject of frequent press coverage in local news outlets around the world and in media devoted to running, swimming, bicycling, and triathlon competition.[7]
The organization operates under the leadership of Jon Blais' parents, Bob and Mary Ann Blais, his sister, Jennifer Murphy, and friends. Supporters include leading Ironman competitors, such as Chrissie Wellington, Leanda Cave, Andy Potts, Mirinda Carfrae, Matt Reed, Bryan Rhodes, and Scott Tinley. In 2011 these star triathletes were featured in a music video to raise money for the foundation.[8]
Exemplifying the passion amateur athletes have for the cause, 18-year-old "Blaze Kid" Jennifer Hansen had raised almost $30,000 for the organization before reaching eligibility for her first Ironman event in 2011. The San Francisco athlete said the disease hit home with her in 2009 when a beloved basketball coach was diagnosed with ALS.[9]
^ abc. The Providence Journal, reproduced on alswarriorpoet.com. June 3, 2007. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2013.(obituary)
^"Giving it his all". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2005.
^Askin, deanna. "In memory of triathlete and hero Jon Blais, the Blazeman". Active.com.
^"World Ironman Championships: beyond my wildest dreams". chrissiewellington.org. October 21, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^. Blazeman Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
^Feinberg School of Medicine. "The War on ALS". Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
^. Blazeman Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^Hichens, Liz. "Blazeman Foundation Releases Full-Length Celebrity Music Video". Triathlete magazine. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^Barber, Jennifer Ward. "At 18, "Blaze Kid" Awaits Arizona". Lava Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^Whittington, Eric. "Blazeman Foundation Awards Grant for ALS Research at Wake Forest Baptist". Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^"Braving an Extraordinary Challenge". Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^. Columbia Triathlon Association. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
External linksedit
, Jon Blais' personal website
Blazeman Foundation
January 01, 1970
blais, august, 1971, 2007, also, known, blazeman, american, triathlete, noted, fight, against, amyotrophic, lateral, sclerosis, namesake, blazeman, foundation, contents, battle, with, blazeman, foundation, references, external, linksbattle, with, editborn, rai. Jon Blais August 30 1971 May 27 2007 also known as Blazeman was an American triathlete noted for his fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS and is the namesake of the Blazeman Foundation 1 Contents 1 Battle with ALS 2 Blazeman Foundation 3 References 4 External linksBattle with ALS editBorn and raised in Seekonk Massachusetts Blais moved to San Diego California because of its reputation as a triathlon mecca and to work with learning disabled and at risk students 1 2 On May 2 2005 at age 33 he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS also known as Lou Gehrig s disease or motor neurone disease a progressive disease in which the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement degenerate and die off He was permitted to enter the 2005 Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii a lifelong dream As Blais put it Finishing the race is huge for me No one is beating ALS No one has done anything but walk away and die His resolve to finish the race was unwavering as he stated Even if I have to be rolled across the finish line I m finishing 3 With a total time of 16 28 56 more than half an hour before the cutoff he log rolled across the finish line and is the first person with ALS to start and finish this race 1 He died on May 27 2007 Some international triathletes continue to honor Blais and show their support for the fight against ALS by doing a Blazeman Roll across the Ironman finish line 4 Blazeman Foundation editThe Blazeman Foundation 5 is a non profit organization that raises money internationally to foster awareness of and research on ALS Branding itself as the Multi Sport Movement To End Lou Gehrig s Disease the organization was founded in 2007 by friends and family of Jon Blais 6 As a popular money raising cause and reason to race for professional and amateur triathletes the organization is the subject of frequent press coverage in local news outlets around the world and in media devoted to running swimming bicycling and triathlon competition 7 The organization operates under the leadership of Jon Blais parents Bob and Mary Ann Blais his sister Jennifer Murphy and friends Supporters include leading Ironman competitors such as Chrissie Wellington Leanda Cave Andy Potts Mirinda Carfrae Matt Reed Bryan Rhodes and Scott Tinley In 2011 these star triathletes were featured in a music video to raise money for the foundation 8 Exemplifying the passion amateur athletes have for the cause 18 year old Blaze Kid Jennifer Hansen had raised almost 30 000 for the organization before reaching eligibility for her first Ironman event in 2011 The San Francisco athlete said the disease hit home with her in 2009 when a beloved basketball coach was diagnosed with ALS 9 Research funding from the foundation has been awarded to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center 11 300 in 2011 10 Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 400 000 committed through 2012 11 and the University of Maryland where the organization will be supporting the university s Brain and Tissue Bank in setting up a program for ALS patients to donate their tissue postmortem for research 12 References edit a b c Jon Blazeman Blais The Providence Journal reproduced on alswarriorpoet com June 3 2007 Archived from the original on November 28 2012 Retrieved September 19 2013 obituary Giving it his all San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved October 16 2005 Askin deanna In memory of triathlete and hero Jon Blais the Blazeman Active com World Ironman Championships beyond my wildest dreams chrissiewellington org October 21 2011 Retrieved November 8 2011 Welcome to Blazeman s War on ALS Blazeman Foundation Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 1 February 2012 Feinberg School of Medicine The War on ALS Northwestern University Archived from the original on 12 December 2012 Retrieved 1 February 2012 News amp Media Blazeman Foundation Archived from the original on 5 February 2012 Retrieved 3 February 2012 Hichens Liz Blazeman Foundation Releases Full Length Celebrity Music Video Triathlete magazine Retrieved 3 February 2012 Barber Jennifer Ward At 18 Blaze Kid Awaits Arizona Lava Magazine Archived from the original on 27 January 2013 Retrieved 3 February 2012 Whittington Eric Blazeman Foundation Awards Grant for ALS Research at Wake Forest Baptist Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Retrieved 3 February 2012 Braving an Extraordinary Challenge Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Archived from the original on 12 December 2012 Retrieved 3 February 2012 The Blazeman Foundation Columbia Triathlon Association Archived from the original on 5 May 2012 Retrieved 3 February 2012 External links editALS Warrior Poet Jon Blais personal website Blazeman Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jon Blais amp oldid 1219003205 Blazeman Foundation, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
